If you look at this page from NCCN (.org), it says that pathological staging is usually more important because it includes lymph nodes whose status can only be determined microscopically.
http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient...t/4_stages.asp
Hope this helps.
Kathy
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12/01/2006 Initial Dx via stereotactic biopsy - DCIS, grade 3
12/27/2006 Lumpectomy w/ SNB: 2 foci of IDC (largest .3 cm, Grade 2, Notthingham score 6) amid large area of DCIS: No clear margins on the DCIS; re-excision recommended
ER+(55%)/PR+(60+)/HER2+ (2.8+ via IHC?)
01/23/2007 Re-excision Lumpectomy: No clear margins on the DCIS; mastectomy recommended
03/02/2007 Bilateral mastectomy w/ expander implant insertion
03/19/2007 Emergency surgery to fix broken blood vessel in left breast
03/30/2007 Met w/ oncologist; oncologist checking on HER2 status with pathologist and doing some consulting on my case - no treatments for now!
05/02/2007 Next appointment w/ oncologist
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